Black Gloss Ware from Fondo Iozzino, Pompeii The study of the materials from the 1992 excavations

This work examines the black gloss ware recovered from the extra-urban sanctuary of Fondo Iozzino at Pompeii, specifically the material brought to light during the 1992 excavation campaign directed by A. d’Ambrosio. The study aims to contribute both to the understanding of the sanctuary’s archaeological record and to the broader discussion of black- gloss pottery production, circulation, and consumption in the Vesuvian area The first half of the thesis provides the historical and scholarly framework within which the ceramic corpus can be interpreted. It begins with the history of research on the sanctuary of Fondo Iozzino, from its discovery in 1960 to the most recent investigations, tracing the development of scholarly interpretations concerning its topographical and cultural significance. The dissertation then broadens to the history of scholarship on black-gloss pottery, first as a major ceramic class in the archaeology of ancient Italy and then with specific reference to Pompeii and the Vesuvian area. The second half of this work is devoted to the direct study of the material from the 1992 excavation and combines the analysis of ceramic fabrics with the catalog of the forms identified in the examined material. The study considers forms, fabrics, chronology, and possible production areas; this allowed the examined pottery to be related to known production traditions in Pompeii, the Vesuvian-Sarno Valley, and the wider Campanian region. Majority of the fabrics show clear affinities with materials from Vesuvian contexts and other nearby contexts, supporting the hypothesis that the bigger part of the assemblage was produced locally or regionally. At the same time, the diversity of fabrics suggests that the sanctuary was supplied through multiple channels and was integrated into broader networks of ceramic circulation. Alongside the fabric analysis, the catalog provides a systematic classification of the ceramic forms, including individual entries for the fragments, descriptions of their morphological and technical characteristics, and comparisons with published parallels. The composition of the deposit suggests that it was a large votive dump xi containing material from an earlier phase of the sanctuary, buried before the reorganization of the cult area in the early 1st century BC. The analysis indicates that the dump was formed between the late second and early 1st century BC. This chronology is supported by forms such as the Morel 2752 cup and the Series 1310 paterae, while the absence of later ceramic classes, such as sigillata, points to the progressive decline and eventual abandonment of the sanctuary during the 1st century BC. At the same time, the wider assemblage reveals a period of intense activity between the mid-4th and 3rd centuries BC, especially through the presence of locally produced skyphoi, concavo-convex cups, and small cups. This phase may reflect a broader reorganization of the sanctuary within the wider transformations affecting Campania and the Italic sacred landscape in the Samnite period. The study also clarifies aspects of ritual practice. The predominance of drinking and pouring vessels suggests the central role of libations, while lekythoi and thymiateria point to the use of oils, unguents, and fumigations. Common ware, including tableware and cooking ware, further indicates activities related to the preparation and consumption of food. Although organic remains from SU 3 are lacking, the traces of burning may reflect ritual actions connected with the deposition of the votive material. Overall, the evidence supports the interpretation of Fondo Iozzino as a sanctuary with a strong chthonic character, possibly connected with Jupiter Meilichios and perhaps superimposed on an earlier cult of the Etruscan deity Apa. The dissertation therefore contributes to the reconstruction of the sanctuary’s development, showing its vitality in the Hellenistic period and its gradual decline between the late 2nd and early 1st centuries BC.